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March 20: Cooking Demo at SF Garden Show

by Nico on March 13, 2014 in Events

SF Garden Show 2014

The first day of Spring always inspires celebrations — it’s a new beginning, and warmer weather brings a Season of new foods. So naturally, many of us celebrate by cooking. Next week, I’ll have the pleasure of celebrating the first day of Spring at the SF Flower and Garden Show where I’ll be showing the audience how to prepare a uniquely Peruvian dish and a classic Pisco cocktail.

When: March 20 from 3:30-4:30 PM
Food: Purple Corn Peruvian Paella
Drink: Pisco Sour

Come for the cooking demo, and stay for a taste of the Paella and a sip or two of the Pisco Sour!

The Peruvian Whiskey Sour

by Nico on March 3, 2014 in Cocktails

The Peruvian Whiskey Sour

All the cocktails that I’ve ever posted here have one very important common ingredient — Pisco. Infused Pisco, Pisco with herbal simple syrups, Pisco with citrus, and sometimes, Pisco mixed with other spirits such as Sweet Vermouth, Bourbon, or Rum, but Pisco has always been the star. Except today. For the first time, I am posting a cocktail recipe that does not have any Pisco. What inspired me to break my Pisco rule? My grandmother. Presenting, a cocktail dedicated to my Abuelita Rosa — The Peruvian Whiskey Sour.
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Chicha Morada en Gelatina

by Nico on February 20, 2014 in Recipes

Peruvian purple corn jello shots

Sweet, colorful, soft, warm, cool, citrusy, refreshing, bitter, crunchy, crumbly, in your hand, or with a spoon, few things compare to the simple and magical pleasure of eating a dessert. Except, just maybe, making one for the very first time. Presenting, Chicha Morada en Gelatina, or Peruvian purple corn jello shots. What inspired me to create these colorful, sweet, and citrusy, bite-sized, little cubes? Two of my favorite chefs, and the way they combined traditional flavors from Peru with a beautifully modern presentation.
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A Peruvian Recipe to Cure a Broken Heart

by Nico on February 14, 2014 in Recipes

Peruvian dishes to heal a broken heart

Many San Franciscans are probably thinking about chocolate, flowers, or romantic dinners for two on Valentine’s Day. But what about the brokenhearted? According to the Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, there exists a Peruvian recipe to cure a broken heart.
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Yerba Mate Pisco Sour

by Nico on February 1, 2014 in Cocktails

Yerba Mate Pisco Sour

During my trip to Peru last year, I had the opportunity to explore the Pisco bar scene in Lima, and I discovered a dramatic difference compared to the scene here in San Francisco. Every bar prepared their own Pisco infusions or macerados with herbs or fruits, and they each displayed a wall full of bottles with Pisco of different colors that almost looked like a collection of science experiments. One of my favorite macerados was made using coca leafs, which gave me the inspiration to prepare a new cocktail for National Pisco Sour Day.
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